The lateHeath Ledgerwon a posthumous Best Supporting Actor trophy for his zeitgeist-defining performance in 2008sThe Dark Knight.
Ledger, meanwhile, had been nominated and acclaimed for his role inBrokeback Mountainbut finally won forThe Dark Knight.
We shouldnt be surprised if Joker us part of more movies in the next decade or so.
Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock; Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros.
But Phillips film managed to retain the characters chaos and imbue it into the film itself.
The final shot situates Phoenixs character in the surreally violent tradition ofLooney Tunescartoons.
Even while providing an origin for its titular icon,Jokerstill leaves him mysterious.
Jokeris a good movie to take seriously, but not necessarily literally.
Its not an unironic endorsement!
But Phillips movie didnt just earn 11 nominations because it features a meaty, recognizable character.
When hes finally pushed over the brink by arrogant financiers on a subway, he kills them.
His self-financed run for the presidency serves as an indication of the films prescience about our current zeitgeist.
An Oscar win for Phoenix would likely cement the Jokers reputation as a role that can deliver Oscars.
